Combination and key controlled lock



July 20, 1954 F. M. MACE COMBINATION AND KEY coNTRoLLED Loox 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 12, 1953 July 20, 1954 F. M. MACE COMBINATION AND KEY CONTROLLED LOCK 2` Sheets-Shea?I 2 Filed Jan. l2. 1953 INVENToR. Feder'ick MJWGc-e Patented July 20, 1954 OFFICE COMBINATION AND KEY CONTROLLED LOCK Frederick M. Mace, San Diego, Calif.

Application January 12, i953, Serial No. 330,701

(Cl. l-284) 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in combination locks operable into closed and open positions by manual rotation of certain elements oi the lock in cooperation with the insertion of a key for manipulating and aligning certain other elements of the lock.

Another object is the provision of a lock of this character which may be readily adaptable to other locks employing a locking bolt for actuating the same.

A still further object is the provision of iinger-contacting elements arranged circumferentially around the iront or key-receiving end of the lock to enable an operator to quickly and conveniently count, by the sense of touch the predetermined necessary revolutions required to operate the combination of the lock.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and iinally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side View of the invention with fragments broken away for convenience of ilf lustration.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional end view taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end view of the left-hand end of Figure 2 with a fragment broken away.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional detail View of an externally threaded hollow tubular shaft.

Figure 6 is an end view of the right-hand end f of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional end View taken along the line 'I--l of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an end view of the left-hand end of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a sectional top plan View of Figure 5, showing parts of the lock in an open position.

Figure 10 is a sectional end view taken along the line It-II) of Figure 9.

Figure 1l is a view similar to Figure 9, showing parts of the lock in a locked position.

Figure 12 is a reduced front view of the lock and its supporting plate.

Referring more particularly to the drawings:

With particular reference to Figures l and 2, reference numeral I indicates a cylindrical heusing closed at both of its ends by closure caps 2 and 3 secured in any approved manner as at 4 to the housing. The caps are formed with aligned openings 5 and 6 to provide bearings for an externally threaded hollow tubular shaft l. The left-hand end of the threaded shaft 'I is freely rotatable within a cap 8, which is rotatably mounted in bearing 5. The opposite end of the shaft 'I is rotatably mounted in the bearing 5 and is provided with an integral iiange 9 abutting the inside surface of the supporting plate 3. To the extended portion of the shaft beyond the bearing 5, I secure by spot welding, or the like, a disc IU to maintain the shaft 'I in a proper operating position within the housing. The righthand end of the shaft 'I is closed by an insert II formed integral with a closure plate IIA which is notched inwardly as at I2 (see Figure 6) for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Mounted concentrically of and surrounding cap 8 is a disc I3 which is formed with a right-angular arm generally indicated at I4, and which extends lengthwise of the interior of the housing as shown. Formed integral with, or secured to, the cap 5 is a flange I4 which maintains the cap within the housing and also maintains said disc I3 and arm Iii in proper position. Spaced inwardly from both ends of the shaft 'I are two spaced apart discs I5 and I6 which are formed with aligned openings through which the shaft l is free to rotate. Each disc is formed with diametrically opposed radially extending ears il which are slidable in longitudinal slots I8 formed lengthwise of the housing preventing rotation of the disc but allowing them to be moved toward or away from each other within the housing. Between the disc I5 and the flange I4 is a coil spring I9 whose one end bears against the flange I4 and whose opposite end bears against the disc I5. A companion coil spring 20 surrounds the opposite portion of the shaft l. One end of this spring bears against the disc I6, and its opposite end bears against the inside surface of the closure cap 3. operatively mounted on the shaft I is a traveler nut in the form of one or more coils of wire 2| whose ends terminate in a lug 22 movable between the discs I5 and I6 upon rotation of the shaft 'I through the medium of a crank handle 23 secured to the rotatable disc I5. The angular arm I4 extends inwardly from the disc I3 and rests upon, or is movable along, a track 'i4 formed within a plate 25 of arcuate form in cross section.

The plate 25 is engaged with the discs I5 and I6 by resting within cut out portions 26 and 21, respectively, in the discs whereby the discs are free to move toward and away from each other with respect to the plate. On the inside marginal edge oi the track portion of the plate 25, I form two depending lugs 28 and 29. On the underside of the arm Hl, I form a depending lug 2SA at right angles to the lugs 23 and 2t. The shaft "I is provided with two spaced apart outwardly extending studs 3G and SQA to form limit stops for the movement of the nut 2i along the shaft. On one side of the shaft l I provide a stop-plate 3l formed with a right-angular wing S2 and reduced at its ends as at 33 for swingable or rockable mounting in notches 3f; formed in the dises l5 and I6. A companion stop-plate BiA, having a wing SEA and reduced end portions 33A is likewise mounted in notches 34A formed in the opposite side of the discs I5 and I5.

The outer end of the hollow cap 8 is formed with an abutment in the form of two inwardly turned diametrically opposed fingers 3l and t and also a horizontal projection Sil. Secured within the left-hand end of the hollow tubular threaded shaft l by means of a set-screw Bte is a cylindrical spring housing 4t which is bifurcated for the major portion of its length as at fil to form a passageway for one o two pins i2 which secure a pair of arms 43 and af?.- oi a frame i together in spaced relation to each other. The cylinder lil is also slotted longitudinally at it to slidably engage both arms :i3 and dit of the frame, By this arrangement, the frame may be forced outwardly to the position shown in Figure 1l and returned by the spring @A to the position shown in Figures 5 and Q. The arms are made of a single bar of metal folded back on itself as shown in Figure 5. The top arm i3 is formed with an enlarged horizontal portion #it of rectangular shape in plan View, and slidable i' in slots 48A in the corresponding end of the shaft 1.

Pivotally attached between the frame arms d3 and 44 is a plurality of keys di, whose forward ends are formed into identical projections 4S and whose rear ends are tapered downwardly and forwardly as at 49. The bottom edges of the keys are formed with irregular edges 5G. in order to force the frame and its horizontal portion to the left as shown in Figures 5, 9, and ll, it is necessary that all of said keys be moved into horizontal alignment with each other so that projections 48 may enter the bifurcation dl in the spring housing 4e, then, upon further advancement, force said horizontal portion it to its limit of outward movement. The limit being established by contact of shoulders 5I, formed on the keys, coming in contact with the inner end of spring housing dii. To accomplish said alignment of the keys 4l I provide a key in the form of a bar 52 having formed on its top surface a transverse notch 53, and insertable through the notch i2 formed in the cap II.

The insert II in the end of the shaft l is channeled as at 54 for a portion of its length and reduced in diameter as at 55 for the remainder of its length. Both sides of this reduced portion are undercut as at 55A to slidably en- `gage the opposite ends of the top and bottom arms 42 and 43 of the frame 44. One side of the reduced portion 55 is formed with a cavity 56 into which one end 5l of one leg of a spring grip 58 is anchored. The spring extends across through the insert II, and its opposite leg is extended forwardly as at 59, and is adapted to spring into engagement with a cut-out portion along one edge of the leg 43 of the frame and into abutment with the shoulder 6l at the inner end of the cut-out portion to resist the action of the spring 46A within the spring housing t@ and to prevent the frame from being moved to the right as viewed in Figure 11.

As best illustrated in Figure 12, the combination closure cap and supporting plate 3 of the lock housing may be of square or round formation and formed with notches G2 and ridges G3 to provide spaced-apart linger-contacting points on its edges and front surface so that an operator may by the sense of touch, count and determine the number of rotations or" the screw shaft 'I through the medium of the handle 23, iecessary to move the traveler nut along the shaft in either direction to predetermined positions to actuate the lock.

The operation of the lock is as follows: The nut 2l and its lug 22 are limited in their movement lengthwise of the shaft 'I in either direction by the limit-stops 30 and 39A. In other words rotation of the threaded shaft 'i in a counter-clockwise direction will move the nut toward and inally against the limit-stop Sil and clockwise rotation of the shaft will of course move the nut toward and against the limit-stop iA, for the reason that rotation oi the nut with the shaft is being resisted or preventedv by oontact of the lug 22 with either one of the wings 32--32A of the stop-plates 3I-3iA, respectively, when in their positions shown in Figures l and 2. It will be noted that the length of each of said wings is less than the distance between the limit-stop pins 30 and 36A so that a passageway C is provided between one end of the wing 32 and the limit-stop 3S and also as at D between the opposite end of the wing 32A and the limitstop 33A. rihe nut when bearing against the limit-stop St will rotate with the shaft, pass through the passageway C and will also pass by the plate SIA and its wing 32A for the reason that said plate and wing will rock inwardly and outwardly respectively about the hinge line established by the plate-extensions 33A being cradled in notches El' formed in the discs I5 and l5. However, when the shaft and nut are rotated together in a clockwise direction and the lug strikes against the wing 32A further rotation of the nut in that direction will. be resisted and prevented because of the rocking o the plate and its wing in an opposite direction whereupon the plate EiA will bear against the wall of the housing l. Rotation of the nut being thus blocked will cause it to move to the right as viewed in Figures l. and 2 until the lug '12 clears the right-hand end of the wing 32A and enters the passageway D where it is again free to rotate with the shaft l. Thus it may be said that a neutral Zone of operation exists between the stop pins Q -33A.

The operator will know the exact number of rotations of the shaft in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction required to move the nut (now sliding along either of the wings 3l or SIA) to a location where the lug 22 will contact either of the lugs 29 or 28 respectively to stop the rotation of the nut with the shaft. Then upon further rotation of the shaft in a clockwise direction the lug 22 will abut the lug 25A on the end of the arm I4 and will pull the disc i3 and the cap 8 inwardly through the medium or the flange I4 against the resistance of the spring This inward movement of the cap 8 will position its abutments 3?-38 in the path of rotary movement of the projection 46 on the outer end of the frame 44. When the projection 45 and the cap 8 are thus interlocked, further rotation of the shaft 1 in either direction will be imparted to the cap 8 and its projection 39 for operating any approved type of locking mechanism (not shown) to which my lock is applied and which does not constitute a part of this invention.

Upon rotation 0f the shaft in a counter-clockwise direction the nut and lug will move to the left as viewed in Figure 2 and thereby restore the cap 8 and its related parts to their extended positions as shown in full lines until the lug reaches the passageway C where it is again allowed uninterrupted rotation, as aforesaid. Removal of the key 52 will allow the frame 44', projection 46 and keys 41 to move to the right by the action of the spring 4A to resume their positions shown in Figure 9.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent 1s:

I claim: 1. A lock of the class described comprising in combination, a housing closed at both of its ends, an externally threaded hollow shaft rotatably mounted within said housing, a stop-plate swingably mounted within the housing on each side of said shaft, a traveler nut operatively mounted on said shaft and movable therealong upon rotation of the shaft and when in contact with either of said stop-plates, a cylindrical cap slidably extending through one end of said housing and surrounding one end of said shaft, an arm attached at one of its ends to said cap and terminating at its opposite end in a lug arranged in the path of movement of the traveler nut at predetermined times whereby said cap will be drawn inwardly with respect to the housing upon advancement of the nut along the threads of said shaft, a keyactuated frame slidably mounted within said hollow shaft and adapted to be extended outwardly from one end thereof for engagement with and rotation with said cap when said cap is in said inwardly drawn position.

2. A lock of the class described comprising in combination a housing closed at both of its ends by closure plates, an externally threaded hollow shaft rotatably mounted within said housing, a pair of slidably mounted but non-rotatable spaced-apart discs disposed within the housing and surrounding said shaft, resilient means disposed between each of said discs and its respective end of said housing, a stop-plate disposed on each side of said shaft and swingably engaged with said discs, each of said stop-plates having a right-angular wing extending inwardly toward said shaft, a traveler nut operatively mounted on said shaft and movable therealong upon rotation of the shaft and when in contact with either of the wings of said stop-plates, a cylindrical cap slidably extending through one of said closure plates and surrounding one end of said shaft, a flange formed on said cap on the interior of said housing, a disc surrounding the cap and disposed between said flange and its respective end of said housing, an arm formed integral with said disc and extending into the housing in the direction of the length thereof, the inner end of said arm terminating in a lug arranged in the path of movement of the traveler nut at predetermined times whereby said cap will be drawn inwardly with respect to the housing upon advancement of the nut along the threads of said shaft, a key-actuated frame slidably mounted within said hollow shaft and adapted to be extended outwardly from one end thereof for engagement with and rotation with said cap when said cap is in said inwardly drawn position.

3. A lock of the class described comprising in combination a housing closed at both of its ends by closure-plates, an externally threaded shaft rotatably mounted within said housing, a traveler nut operatively mounted on said shaft, abutment means within the housing for selectively holding the traveler nut against rotation with the shaft and to cause its advancement along the shaft during rotation of the shaft, a cylindrical cap slidably extending through one of said closure-plates and surrounding one end of said shaft, an arm attached at one of its ends to said cap and terminating at its opposite end in a lug arranged in the path of movement of the traveler nut at predetermined times whereby said cap will be drawn inwardly with respect to the housing upon advancement of the nut along the threads of said shaft, a key-actuated frame slidably mounted within said hollow shaft and adapted to be extended outwardly from one end thereof for engagement with and rotation with said cap when said cap is in said inwardly drawn position, a handle secured to the opposite end of said shaft and rotatable therewith adjacent the other of said closure-plates, and the edge of said last mentioned closure-plate being provided with spacedapart finger-contacting elements whereby an operator may determine by the sense of touch the number of revolutions applied to said handle and shaft in either direction.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

